The rank of 6-star general is extraordinarily rare in the US military, having been granted only three times. One person earned it during his lifetime, while the others received the honor posthumously. Their remarkable accomplishments during wartime emphasize the uniquely impressive quality of their careers, making it obvious why they are the only recipients of this exclusive rank and honor.
John J. Pershing’s slow climb up the US military hierarchy
Long before he became a 6-star general, John J. Pershing attended the United States Military Academy West Point. Following his graduation, he spent the first years of his military career fighting the Apache and Lakota Sioux in New Mexico, as well as at other Western outposts. While in Montana, he was promoted to first lieutenant of the 10th Cavalry Regiment.
In 1898, Pershing and the 10th Cavalry traveled to Cuba to fight in the Spanish-American War. He fought in the battles of Santiago de Cuba and San Juan Hill, earning himself a Silver Citation Star that was later upgraded to the Silver Star and a promotion to captain. After heading to the Philippines to lead repeated efforts to subdue the Moro Rebellion, he earned yet another promotion, this time to brigadier general.
In 1916, US President Woodrow Wilson had Pershing lead an expedition in Mexico to search for revolutionary Francisco “Pancho” Villa, who’d recently raided Columbus, New Mexico. The search included approximately 10,000 soldiers and lasted nearly a year. However, despite the efforts of Pershing and his men, which included the defeat of Villa’s forces, the man remained at large.
John J. Pershing refused to sacrifice American lives
When the United States entered World War I, John J. Pershing’s military career reached its peak with his promotion to six-star general. President Woodrow Wilson appointed him the commander of the American Expeditionary Force (AEF) and sent him to France to produce a General Organization Report.
This report was important to assembling an army of one million soldiers by 1918 and three million by the following year. Pershing’s primary objective was to transform these inexperienced troops into a formidable fighting force.
While the French and British wanted to integrate AEF troops into their own units, Pershing was determined to maintain the US Army’s independence. He resisted the Supreme War Council’s proposal to merge American forces with theirs, dismissing it as “pouring new wine into old bottles” and refusing to allow American soldiers to become mere cannon fodder.
Promotion to six-star general
Upon returning to the United States, John J. Pershing was honored for his World War I contributions and became the first person to attain the rank of six-star general. This newly created rank, known as “General of the Armies of the United States,” had no established insignia. As a result, Pershing chose to create it himself, opting for gold stars instead of the silver ones used by other generals.
Pershing retained his six-star rank throughout the remainder of his military career. According to the US Army Center of Military History, he retired from the Army on September 13, 1924, yet continued to hold this rank until his death in 1948.
Trouble with George Washington’s military rank
John J. Pershing is officially recognized as the first individual to be given the rank of six-star general, although the title was later conferred posthumously upon George Washington, who lived centuries before. Washington, celebrated as the first president of the United States, previously led the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War.
His leadership played a key role in securing victory over the British, cementing his status as a national hero. Furthermore, he oversaw the Constitutional Convention, which laid the groundwork for the founding of the United States. Despite his many important contributions, Washington died holding the rank of three-star lieutenant general, which was lower than the ranks of several four- and five-star generals who followed him.
A posthumous promotion to six-star general
When George Washington was promoted to lieutenant general, four- and five-star generals didn’t yet exist, let alone the rank of 6-star. As these rankings were developed, the US Congress agreed it was inappropriate for the late military leader and president to be outranked by officers who’d served in the American Civil War, the First World War and World War II.
On March 13, 1978, a law was passed to promote Washington to the rank of six-star general, General of the Armies of the United States, effective July 4, 1976. It determined that “no officer of the United States Army should outrank Lieutenant General George Washington on the Army list.”
As John J. Pershing was also a six-star general, he didn’t outrank Washington and was therefore allowed to keep his ranking.
Ulysses S. Grant showed military promise from a young age
Prior to becoming the 18th president of the US, Ulysses S. Grant had dedicated his life to military service, attending West Point on the recommendation of Democratic congressman Thomas L. Hamer and, later, serving at the Jefferson Barracks, Missouri under the command of Col. Stephen W. Kearny.
Grant got his first taste of combat during the Mexican-American War, participating in the Battle of Palo Alto and several other engagements against the Mexican forces. The conflict allowed him to show his prowess on the battlefield and it didn’t take very long for higher-ups in the military to see the soldier’s potential.
Leading the Union forces to victory during the American Civil War
Fast forward to the American Civil War, where Ulysses S. Grant solidified his place in history. Called up by Illinois Gov. Richard Yates to lead the less-than-proper 21st Illinois Volunteer Infantry Regiment, he quickly showcased his ability to whip troops into shape. Before long, he’d been named brigadier general of volunteers (later to be major).
Over the course of the conflict, Grant led his men through many high-profile engagements, including attacks on Fort Henry and Fort Donelson and the casualty-heavy Battle of Shiloh. After skillfully succeeding in splitting the Confederate forces in two with the Vicksburg Campaign, the military leader set his sights on Chattanooga, followed by the controversial Battle of Cold Harbor.
By the Confederate surrender in 1865, Grant had risen to commander of the Army. He subsequently ran for the presidency and was sworn in, in 1869, serving two terms.
A long-overdue promotion to six-star general
In December 2022, on the 200th anniversary of his birth, Ulysses S. Grant was posthumously promoted to the rank of six-star general. This was made possible by a provision in the 2023 National Defense Authorization Act, which was approved by the US Congress and signed into law by President Joe Biden, much to the satisfaction of military enthusiasts.
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With the promotion, Grant became the third individual to receive the title of General of the Armies of the United States. It’s unknown if we’ll ever see a fourth be promoted to the prestigious rank.